There was a time when I would follow every single bit of Dream Theater news and rumor as a daily routine. A time when my vacations where planned around Dream Theater tour dates. A time when a Dream Theater release was held in importance above almost any other release. A time when I'd listen to Dream Theater bootlegs more than normal albums from other bands. For the most part, that time is over. I love Dream Theater, I continue to enjoy and follow them to an extent, but to a degree they have timed out to me, lost some of the glean that once made them special.
But this is not a negative post. First off, I celebrate everything Dream Theater has been to me over the past 12 years. The mini-vacations and adventures that were embarked on, the fevered discussions I've had over the years over the minuscule details of their work, and the great joy from the opportunities I've had to speak with them for only a few minutes. I was certainly over the hump with Dream Theater when I decided that my second tattoo would be their brand on my right shoulder, simply because of what a large part of my life they had been.
Perhaps more importantly, I thank Dream Theater for their influence. They helped define and push forward a genre, and their tireless work helped inspire a myriad of musicians who I continue to explore and enjoy. Would bands like Haken and Redemption sound the way they do, and have the opportunities they have if not for the path paved by Dream Theater? Although Dream Theater may not dominate my musical landscape in the way they once did, their spirit truly does carry on in the musicians they've affected.
Over 30 years you guys pushed boundaries, defined a genre, and kicked ass all around the world. Well done, and carry on.